IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 2 April 2009

International Policy Network / F2T Freedom to Trade

CONTACT: Mark Baillie, IPN, mark //at// policynetwork.net, + 44 20 3393 8412 (forwards out of hours)

LONDON - The G20 says it will “name and shame” countries that break free trade rules. Yet 17 of them have already broken a previous G20 pledge against protectionism.

The Freedom to Trade campaign announced its own Name & Shame plan the day before: “Governments cannot be trusted to keep their promises, so the Freedom to Trade Coalition – representatives of civil society from over 40 countries – will be holding them to account. We will monitor and post on-line any instances of the many visible and hidden techniques that obstruct trade - and deepen recession,” said Julian Morris, Director of International Policy Network.

“Free trade can pull us all out of recession – as the G20 communique of 2 April correctly stated. But 17 out of the G20 have implemented a total of 47 measures that restrict trade since making a pledge against protectionism in November,” Professor Morris added.

The US government is propping up its auto industry, blocking competitors and raising prices for Americans. China is considering subsidies and higher export rebates for its steel. India has banned Chinese toys. China has banned Irish pork. The EU has new export subsidies for butter, cheese and milk powder. In Britain, jingoists, unions and the Prime Minister want “British jobs for British workers.”

Commenting on the threat posed by protectionism, Prof. Morris said: “Free trade must not become a victim of this recession. If it is, we will all be the losers. The consequence could be a downturn as serious as the Great Depression – and might again lead to war. We cannot allow that.”

BACKGROUND DATA

Freedom to Trade campaign announces its own Name & Shame plan, 1 April 2009

Freedom to Trade campaign:

Top economists urge G20 to embrace free trade – Reuters, 1 April 2009 

Protectionism on rise despite pledges: World Bank - AFP, 17 March (…)17 of the Group of 20 developed and developing countries have implemented trade-restricting measures since G20 leaders signed a pledge at an emergency summit last November to avoid protectionist measures. 

Name and Shame list so far: USA Today sidebar, 2 April

CONTACT:

Mark Baillie, IPN, mark //at// policynetwork.net, +44 20 3393 8412 (forwards out of hours) for interviews with F2T members in over 100 countries